Arctic Circle Trail Confirmation Details
We are very excited to confirm your participation on our 2026 Arctic Circle Trail expedition. We are confident that this expedition will be a remarkable adventure. This eConfirmation Kit includes many details and important information about the expedition. Please read it carefully and don’t hesitate to reach out with any questions.
Preparation is the key to your success, safety and comfort during the expedition. This confirmation letter is designed to give you easy access to all the forms and resources that will be a part of your preparations along with your personal training and travel arrangements.
This Confirmation Letter includes the following important information in this order:
Expedition Dates & Arrival Information
This expedition begins as the team gathers in Kangerlussuaq, Greenland on March 10, 2026 for an evening welcome reception. We recommend arriving a day earlier to provide yourself some wiggle room should you have any delayed flights or delayed baggage, and to allow ample time for a gear check by our guides. We will start skiing on March 12 and we plan to arrive in Sisimiut on March 20 allowing for a March 21 departure.
Travel to/ from Greenland – A new international airport has recently been built in Nuuk, Greenland that has changed the flights into and out of Kangerlussuaq. Travel to Kangerlussuaq typically involves a layover in Nuuk, Greenland but there are occasionally a handful of direct flights to Kangerlussuaq from Copenhagen. Returning home from Sisimiut will also likely involve a stop, or layover, in Nuuk. Weather delays are common in Greenland. Consider arriving a day early to allow for any delays and also plan for some wiggle room at the end of the expedition before important commitments back home.
Passport & Visa - A valid passport (check the expiration date!) is required to enter Greenland. Please check with your travel agent or a Royal Danish Consulate to see if you are required to have a visa to enter Greenland.
Lodging - In Kangerlussuaq we recommend staying at Polar Lodge. If Polar Lodge is full we recommend the Hotel Kangerlussuaq as an alternative. In Sisimiut we recommend the Hotel Sisimiut. If they are fully booked please contact us for additional recommendations.
Additional travel tips – We recommend booking your travel arrangements with a travel agent who can make changes on your behalf with one call from the ice. Alternatively, designating a family member or friend to act as your travel agent is much better than having to deal with lengthy airline phone queues from an expensive satellite phone with a questionable signal.
Itinerary
On the morning of March 11 we will meet to review important expedition procedures and skills. We will also review the route and make general preparations for our transfer the following morning. There is a small grocery store in town where simple packaged goods can be purchased. However, due to irregularities with the hours and the inventory we recommend that you bring most of your lunch snacks with you.
On March 12, we will be dropped off at the start of the Arctic Circle Trail. For the next 9 days we will explore this incredible and historic route between Kangerlussuaq and Sisimiut known as the Arctic Circle Trail. Wide sweeping valleys, frozen lakes and rugged mountains will be our companions.
Your days will be spent traveling by ski, with breaks every hour or so to snack and re-hydrate. We plan to be on the move between 7-8 hours a day, or more as necessary, with an average of 15-20 km per day.
You need to complete and submit the following forms for the expedition.
Submit by:
PE Application (online form) - Submit along with your registration and deposit
PE Medical Form (online form)- Submit by November 10, 2025
PE Insurance Form (online form) - Submit by November 10, 2025
Acknowledgement of reading this Confirmation Letter - Submit by November 10, 2025
Greenland weather can be extreme and it changes rapidly. You need specific clothing & equipment for this expedition and you need to be very familiar with every item you bring. Click here to see your Clothing & Equipment Checklist and a description of most items.
Weather conditions can vary from blue-bird days to complete white outs. Winds can be calm or ferocious. The temperatures can hover from -30F or colder to well above zero. For these reasons it is important to follow the equipment list closely so you are prepared for all that Mother Nature has to offer.
It’s important that new gear is purchased well in advance of the expedition so you can break it in and become familiar with it. This is especially critical for your boots. Don’t forget that you might want to add modifications, like long zipper pulls, or extra pockets to your gear. There are no stores in Kangerlussuaq that sell expedition-quality outdoor gear so it’s critical that you arrive with everything you need.
Be Prepared, Present & Positive
Showing up for this expedition means a lot more than arriving in Kangerlussuaq with your gear. It also means arriving well prepared, ready to be present, and committed to being a positive member of your team. If your lack of preparedness or other factors mean that you are physically incapable or if your actions, attitude or behavior jeopardizes you or the group we reserve the right to arrange for your evacuation at your own expense. Neither refunds nor credits are given under such circumstances.
Like many expeditions this adventure represents a financial investment on your part. We require that you purchase trip cancellation insurance or sign a waiver acknowledging that you are intentionally declining to do so. Trip cancellation insurance has many benefits including coverage if you need to cancel your expedition due to, among other things, illness or injury to yourself or that of a family member, especially when within 120 days of the expedition.
Medical Evacuation Insurance
Much of our route in Greenland is remote. Thus, medical evacuation insurance for at least $150,000 USD is required. Typically comprehensive travel insurance policies that include trip cancellation also include a medical evacuation component in excess of this amount.
Every participant needs to bring at least one course of a broad spectrum antibiotic (for skin infections, urinary tract infections, etc.) and any personal medications that you may frequently use including epinephrine if you have severe allergies. We also recommend a respiratory antibiotic if you are prone to having respiratory illnesses or infections. Women may also want to carry an antifungal medication for yeast infections. If you do not have a personal physician who can write these prescriptions contact Duration Health which specializes in emergency medications for travelers. Also plan to bring a small first aid kit with items you frequently use such as blister care, ibuprofen, etc.
Every expedition has three phases. The first phase begins the day you commit to doing the expedition and it ends when you embark on the adventure. This phase is called the Preparatory Phase and it is extremely important. Click here to find out what you should know and do during the Preparatory Phase of your expedition.
During the expedition we will stop periodically to snack on high energy food and drink fluids that you bring. PolarExplorers does not provide any snack or lunch items to eat during the day. Plan to bring a minimum of 1500 calories of your favorite energy snacks for each day. The overall weight of your snack food should be in the ballpark 18 oz / 500 gr per day with a total of 9 days for this expedition. Your snacks should have both quick burning and slow burning calories (for example, chocolate AND nuts). Also, some people like to bring their own favorite powdered drink. If you find drinking flavored water easier than drinking plain water, consider bringing such a mix. How much? You will likely be drinking at least 2 liters (or quarts) of fluids each day while on the go. Additionally you will be drinking hot drinks in the evening and mornings (coco, tea, etc. provided by PolarExplorers). For more information on expedition snack food check out this short video (https://youtu.be/KHAd5AUAtl0).
We will be posting an expedition blog with frequent dispatches from the expedition. This is a great way to share the adventure with your family and friends. The blog can be found here or by clicking the yellow “Dispatch” button on our homepage menu bar. We encourage you to participate by writing one of the blogs or sharing an audio dispatch.
Tipping your expedition guide is customary and always appreciated though it is not obligatory. The tip amount is at your discretion. Here’s a helpful resource about guide tips from Outside Magazine.
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Dinners and breakfasts during the expedition
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All group gear (tents, cooking, safety, etc.)
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Sleds and sled harnesses
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Emergency & communication gear
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Guides
What is not included?
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Any airfare
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Personal clothing & equipment including skis & ski poles
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Accommodations and meals in Kangerlussuaq and Sisimiut
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Lunch snacks during the crossing
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Trip cancellation insurance
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Medical evacuation insurance
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Excess baggage charges
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Airport transfers
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Gratuity
Again, thank you for registering for our 2026 Arctic Circle Trail Ski Expedition. We look forward to working with you as you prepare for this exciting adventure. Please do not hesitate to contact us if we can assist you in any way.